Synopsis

Album Description

Import only remastered reissue of 1956 album that's out-of-print in the U.S. Digipak. Warner.

CD Reviews

Instumental Ray

W. Giles | 12/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A lot of folks forget that Ray Charles was a killer jazz-blues pianist. And this CD showcases that side of his talent. An all instrumental set that focuses on his jazz piano style with a heavy dose of the blues!This is perfect late night listening. An especially nice are the trio cuts, which make up about half of the CD.Late-night stripped down Ray with a serious case of the blues is what you get here!"

Late night soporific (no ice)

Peter Bond | Tasmania | 08/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If I was in a quiet bar, enjoying a quiet drink, late at night, feeling mellow and relaxed ... this is the music I'd be listening to. I know nothing about jazz (my wife told me) but even I know a stunning recording when I hear it. Released in 1961, therefore only 38 minutes of music on this album, but hey, it's 1961 right? If you want more, play it twice."

Ray plays straight ahead

Ben Bailey | 03/31/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a rare opportunity to hear Ray playing straight ahead jazz with legends Joe Harris on drums and Oscar Pettiford walking the bass. Listen to Ray bop along side Joe as he stirs the soup on the brushes during "Dawn Ray". Make no mistake this rhythm section swings hard; after all bop mastro Dizzy Gillespie hired Joe to play drums in his band during the mid 1940's. Enjoy all 38 minutes!

"

True genius

S J Buck | Kent, UK | 11/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the title indicates this is lovely set of recordings of Ray Charles playing Blues/Jazz Piano either with a Trio or with various horn and/or Trumpet players. The best known being Dave 'Fathead' Newman on Tenor Sax. Another well known musician featured is Oscar Pettiford on bass.

This set shows that even if Ray Charles had never sung a note in his life his Blues and Jazz Piano playing would have been good enough to make a good career out of. My favourite track is 'Joy Ride' a bebop (Parker) inspired blues variation which I'm fond of playing to friends and saying "Who's the Piano player?". Nobody has answered the question correctly yet! It just isn't a style of Piano playing you associate with Ray Charles.

The recordings were made in 1961 and the running time is only 38 minutes. Listening to them again recently it only confirmed my view that Ray Charles was one of the most important figures in black American music full stop. "